Advocates claim momentum following CHIP hearing

Advocates for children are claiming momentum after senators held an initial hearing on financing the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) past September 2015.

First Focus, a bipartisan advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., emphasized that CHIP has the “same strong bipartisan support among lawmakers as among voters.”

{mosads}”One common thread from all the witnesses — advocate, pediatrician, state official, and budget analyst — was that waiting is not an option,” said spokesman Ed Walz.

“Congress needs to act this fall to avoid a train wreck on children’s healthcare.”

The hearing in the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Healthcare comes amid debate over how much money to provide for CHIP given the new coverage options available to families under ObamaCare.

Democrats in the House and Senate support extending CHIP’s funding through 2019, but it is likely that some Republicans will disagree as negotiations ramp up. 

Advocates are hoping to avoid major cuts to a bipartisan program they say is essential for providing children with medical benefits that specifically target their health.

ObamaCare also contains a wrinkle preventing the exchanges from subsidizing health insurance for the families of workers who can obtain affordable coverage for themselves through work.

Groups have warned that thousands of families will fall into the gap and pay higher premiums as a result.